Duroswing

ABSTRACT

An improved portable patio swing of the type being suspended from a free-standing, overhead support frame. The patio swing includes a swing seat including a sling cushion that is suspended within a peripheral seat frame including a pair of opposed, S-shaped arm members being interconnected by seat frame cross-members. The sling cushion features a plurality of articulating compartments formed therein which are capable of folding across the width thereof to conform to the back and rear end of the occupant of the swing. The swing seat is suspended within the overhead support means by predetermined lengths of linked chain or other suitable connecting means which position the swing seat at the desired inclination in relation to the supporting frame. The overhead supporting frame is generally rectangular in configuration and includes a pair of opposed stabilizing legs having a long leg portion and a short leg portion which are adapted to balance the load exerted as the center of gravity shifts during operation of the swing. The swing includes an optional canopy to provide shade for the occupants thereof and an optional footrest which depends from said swing seat.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/001,952 filed Aug. 7, 1995 by Giorgio Onorini.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to patio swings and, more particularly, to aportable patio swing that is suspended from an overhead frame.

Recreational swing gliders for use on a patio or porch are well known tothose skilled in the art.

In the conventional practice, the swing seat is suspended from anoverhead frame comprised of side frame members including elongated,vertical columns and an overhead crossbar member extending therebetweenand being fixedly attached thereto.

Such a swing glider generally includes a suspension system forsupporting the swing seat from the side frame members and for adjustingthe inclination of the side frame members to recline the swing seat to acomfortable position.

Typically, the swing gliders of the prior art are comprised of numerouscomponents and, thus, are difficult to assemble, cumbersome totransport, and expensive to manufacture.

The present invention provides a solution to these problems by providinga portable swing glider having fewer component parts and, thus, isrelatively simple to assemble and is less expensive to manufacture.

2. Description of Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. Des. 355,982 to Carl V. Matthews, Sr. discloses theornamental design for a patio swing including a support frame having apair of vertical uprights and curved arm rests.

U.S. Pat. No. Des. 99,733 to Milton B. Smith discloses the ornamentaldesign for a canopy glider being mounted on a peripheral frame oftubular construction having a canopy mounted thereon.

U.S. Pat. No. Des. 313,513 to Janet L. Girecky et al, discloses theornamental design for a swing seat including a generally rectangularsupporting frame having curved side rails in which the swing seat issuspended.

U.S. Pat. No. Des. 349,819 to Robert C. Noll discloses the ornamentaldesign for a swing including a supporting frame having a pair ofgenerally triangular side frame members of tubular constructioninterconnected by cross members wherein the swing is suspended.

U.S. Pat. No. Des. 356,215 to Ronald D. Newman discloses the ornamentaldesign for a porch swing having a generally rectangular seat frame withside arm rests wherein a sling-type seatback is suspended.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,346,973 to Patrick W. Padden discloses a swing having asupport frame including single uprights in the upper portion thereofwith an overhead rod suspending the swing seat.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,378 to Janet L. Girecky et al, discloses arecreational swing unit comprised of a lounge swing adapted to besupported by chains from an overhead support structure.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,944,446 to William R. McGowen discloses a swingincluding a pivoting foot rest that is designed to be suspended bychains from an overhead support member.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,984,786 to Henri Dujardin discloses an adjustable chairhaving a sling-type seatback that is suspended within a peripheralframe.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,221,429 to Mark W. Wade discloses a suspended reclinerthat is provided with a leg support area which depends verticallydownward from the main body of the recliner.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,609 to Daniel R. Christensen discloses a swing couchcomprised of a generally rectangular support frame wherein a slingtypeseatback is suspended.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,971 to Lawrence A. Thiel discloses a reclineableswing chair which is suspended from cables or chains, or similarflexible rope or linked bars.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,153,955 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,225 acontinuation-in-part thereof to Albert L. Singleton, Jr. et al.discloses a hammock stand consisting of three sections for suspending ahammock above the ground.

The printed publication, Brookstone--Hard to Find Tools, 1995, on page71 discloses a double swing chair that is similar in appearance to thepresent invention.

The printed publication, Home Decorators Collection, Winter, 1995, onpage 47 discloses a Hammock Chair Stand that is similar in appearance tothe present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

After much research and study in the art, the present invention has beendeveloped to provide a portable patio swing which is suspended within afree-standing overhead frame. The swing seat includes a flexible slingcushion forming the seat well and seat back which is suspended within aperipheral seat frame having a pair of S-shaped side arm members.

The sling cushion is comprised of a plurality of articulating panelswhich conform to the back and rear of a person seated therein to providecomfortable support.

The swing is suspendable from an overhead support frame which, inaccordance with the present invention, includes a crossbar fixedlyattached to a pair of vertically opposed columns, each being supportedby a perpendicular leg portion. The opposed leg portions areinterconnected by a lower horizontal crossbar and reinforced with cornerbraces to provide added support and to balance the swing duringoperation.

The portable patio swing is provided with an optional canopy to provideprotection from the harmful effects of the sun and to give shade to theusers thereof.

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention toprovide a portable patio swing which may be suspended from afree-standing overhead frame.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an overhead framesupported by stabilizing legs being adapted to balance the swing as itscenter of gravity shifts during operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sling cushiontype of seat that includes a plurality of articulating panels thatconform to the back and rear of person sitting therein to providecomfortable support.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable patioswing with a suspended foot rest.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent and obvious from a study of the following description and theaccompanying drawings which are merely illustrative of such invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the portable patio swing of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the patio swing showing thearticulating compartments formed in the sling cushion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With further reference to the drawings, a portable patio swing inaccordance with the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 andindicated generally at 10.

The major components of the patio swing 10 are the swing seat, indicatedgenerally at 12, and the overhead support frame, indicated generally at14.

In the embodiment shown, swing seat 12 is provided with an optionalcanopy 15 which is adapted for removable attachment thereto. Swing seat12 is also provided with an optional foot rest 16 which dependstherefrom by linked chain 17 as shown in FIG. 1.

Swing seat 12 includes a seat frame, indicated generally at 18,including a pair of S-shaped arm members 20 which are adapted forattachment at the terminal ends thereof to a pair of parallel, seatcross members 22.

In the preferred embodiment, arm members 20 and cross members 22 arefabricated from fiberglass or other suitable materials.

It can be seen that the swing seat 12 is provided with a sling cushion,indicated generally at 24, which is adapted for removable attachment ateither end thereof to seat cross members 22 thereby forming a seatback24a and a seat well 24b.

Turning now to FIG. 2, sling cushion 24 includes a plurality ofhorizontally disposed, articulating compartments 25 therein whichconform to the shape of a person (not shown) occupying the swing seat12.

In the preferred embodiment, the sling cushion 24 may be fabricated froman acrylic fabric suitable for use outdoors such as that sold under thetradename Sunbrella. Sling cushion 24 is fabricated by stitchingtogether opposed sheets of a suitable material to form an elongatedenvelope which is filled with a marine dacron or other suitable fillermaterial such as an expanded foam.

Thereafter, sling cushion 24 is stitched across its breadth alongstitching lines 26 to form the plurality of horizontally disposed,articulating compartments 25.

The upper and lower ends of sling cushion 24 are adapted for attachmentto seat cross members 22 in order to suspend the sling cushion 24 withinseat frame 18.

In the preferred embodiment, the upper and lower ends of cushion 24,have formed therein a pocket 28 extending the width of sling cushion 24which are each adapted to receive a corresponding seat cross member 22thereby permanently retaining sling cushion 24 therebetween.

Thus, in an assembly procedure for swing seat 12, seat cross members 22will be inserted into pockets 28 such that the terminal ends thereofprotrude slightly from either end.

S-shaped arm members 20 may be fixedly attached at either end thereof bymachine screws 30 extending through apertures (not shown) formed ineither end of S-shaped arm members 20 and seat cross members 22.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the swing seat 12, as assembled, is suspendedfrom an overhead support frame 14 by linked chain 17 or other suitableconnecting means.

In the preferred embodiment, predetermined lengths of chain 17 arecoupled to eye bolts 29 which are fixed to seat cross members 22 asshown in FIG. 1.

The predetermined lengths of chain 17 are arranged to suspend the swingseat 12 at the desired inclination in relation to overhead support frame14.

Overhead support frame 14 includes a pair of vertically opposed uprightmembers 11 which are interconnected by a pair of horizontally disposedupper and lower cross-bars 13 and 13' being fixedly attached at theirterminal ends by a slip joint connection as at 27 and 27', respectively.

Since such slip joint connections are well known to those skilled in theart, further detailed discussion of the same is not deemed necessary.

It can be seen that the lower ends of each respective upright member 11are attached to opposed, stabilizing legs, indicated generally at 19,which are disposed in perpendicular relation to upright members 11 inorder to stabilize the same during operation of the swing 10.

Stabilizing leg 19 includes a short leg portion 19a and a long legportion 19b which are fabricated to a predetermined length and adaptedto balance the load when swing 10 is occupied and the center of gravityof the same is shifted during operation.

In the preferred embodiment, frame members 11, 13 and 19 are formed fromtubular steel or other suitable material and are painted for durabilityand capped to prevent water damage as at 33.

Still referring to FIG. 1, it can be seen that the upright members 11are reinforced by corner braces 21 at their juncture with stabilizinglegs 19 and the lower horizontal cross bar 13' in order to provideadequate support for upright members 11.

In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of corner braces 21 extend fromstabilizing legs 19 and lower horizontal cross-bar 13' and beingattached thereto by weldment or other suitable means to provideadditional strength to the overhead frame 14.

In the embodiment shown, swing seat 12 is suspended from a pair ofJ-shaped hooks 23, which are fixedly attached to the curved, inwardlyprojecting portions 14a of upright members 11.

Swing seat 12 may be provided with an optional canopy 15 for shade. Inthe embodiment shown, a generally rectangular canopy 15 is pivotallymounted between a pair of generally U-shaped rod members 31 which areadapted for attachment to the upper ends of S-shaped arm members 20 bymachine screws 30 or other suitable fasteners.

Canopy is provided with a plurality of flexible plastic spreaders 35 tomaintain canopy in the arched configuration shown in FIG. 2.

From the above it can be seen that the portable patio swing of thepresent invention provides significant improvements over the swinggliders of the prior art.

The portable patio swing of the present invention features a sling-typecushion including a plurality of articulating compartments which conformto the back and rear of the occupant of the swing.

In addition, the portable patio swing of the present invention providesa free-standing overhead support frame including stabilizing legs whichare adapted to balance the load of the swing as the center of gravity isshifted during operation.

Finally, the improved patio swing of the present invention features aseat frame fabricated from durable, weatherproof materials and having areduced number of components so as to be relatively inexpensive tomanufacture and easy to assemble. Suspended therebelow is a foot restfor greater comfort.

The terms "upper", "lower", "side", and so forth have been used hereinmerely for convenience to describe the present invention and its partsas oriented in the drawings. It is to be understood, however, that theseterms are in no way limiting to the invention since such invention mayobviously be disposed in different orientations when in use.

The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other specificways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit andessential characteristics of such invention. The present embodimentsare, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalencyrange of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:
 1. An improved portable patio swing of the typebeing suspended within a free-standing, overhead support frame, saidimprovements comprising:a swing seat means including a pair ofhorizontally opposed, S-shaped arm members, said arm members beinginterconnected by a plurality of cross-members fixedly attached at theterminal ends thereof forming a peripheral seat frame means, said swingseat means further including a sling cushion means disposed between saidS-shaped arm members and being adapted for attachment at either endthereof to said cross-members in the manner of a sling, said slingcushion means including a plurality of generally rectangular,horizontally disposed articulating compartments integrally formedtherein whereby each respective articulating compartment within saidsling cushion means may be folded across the width thereof to conform tothe shape of the occupant of said swing; and overhead support framemeans whereon said swing seat means is suspended by connecting means,said frame means including a pair of vertically opposed, upright membersinterconnected by a pair of horizontally disposed upper and lowercross-bar members being fixedly attached at the terminal ends thereof,each of said upright members also being fixedly attached at lower endthereof to a stabilizing leg, said stabilizing leg including a short legportion and a long leg portion adapted to balance the load exertedthereon during operation of said swing.
 2. The swing of claim 1 whereinsaid plurality of articulating compartments within said cushion meansare formed by stitching the opposed surfaces of the same along parallellines across the width thereof at predetermined intervals.
 3. The swingof claim 1 wherein said connecting means includes predetermined lengthsof linked chain arranged to suspend said swing seat means at a specificinclination in relation to said overhead frame means.
 4. The swing ofclaim 1 wherein said overhead support frame means is fabricated fromtubular steel.
 5. The swing of claim 1 including a canopy means beingpivotally mounted on said seat frame means to provide shade for anoccupant of said swing.
 6. The swing of claim 1 including a footrestmeans depending from said swing seat means.
 7. The swing of claim 1wherein each of said pair of upright members are corner braced to bothsaid short leg portion and said long leg portion of each of thestabilizing legs attached to each of said pair of upright members and tothe lower cross-bar member.